Letter to the Editor: Opinion on Scott Brown’s Health Care Policy

The following was submitted by Communications Director for ProgressMass Mathew Helman: 

According to the 2010 Census, 3,490 people age 65 and older live in Reading, along with 1,845 senior citizens in North Reading, and every one of them should be deeply concerned about Republican Scott Brown’s health care policy.  The centerpiece of Brown’s health care policy is working to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the federal health care reform law known as ObamaCare.

National health care advocacy organization Community Catalyst Action Fund released a new analysis finding that, if the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”) is repealed, senior citizens in Reading and North Reading and across Massachusetts will be saddled with higher costs and fewer benefits.

ObamaCare, as it is known, lowers seniors’ Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs by an estimated $500 per year.  This means that, if Republican Scott Brown gets his way and repeals ObamaCare, seniors’ Medicare costs will go up about $5,000 over the next decade.

ObamaCare also fills in the so-called “donut hole” in prescription drug coverage for seniors.  Between January and August of this year, 31,000 Massachusetts residents hit the “donut hole.”  ObamaCare saved those Medicare beneficiaries an average of over $600 per person.  This means that, if Republican Scott Brown gets his way and repeals ObamaCare, seniors’ prescription drug costs will go up dramatically.

Also, during the first eight months of 2012, over 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries across Massachusetts took advantage of no-cost preventive services thanks to ObamaCare.  If Republican Scott Brown gets his way and repeals ObamaCare, seniors will lose these no-cost preventive services.

Policy decisions made in Washington D.C. have a real and direct impact on the residents of Reading and North Reading.  The health care policy that Republican Scott Brown is advocating would have a decidedly harmful impact on Reading's and North Reading's seniors.